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Five thoughts: How you stop worrying about shutouts and love the playoffs

Jon Quick

Yesterday’s games provided lots to chew on for fans in Philadelphia, Boston, and San Jose and what they’re chewing on doesn’t exactly taste all that great. As for those of you worrying about how this might be the “playoffs of the goaltender,” get off that ledge and come back inside... We swear it’s not a trap.

1. While the Coyotes comeback against Detroit fell short, don’t think that it won’t have an effect on them heading into Game 3. The momentum they gathered in that big third period is the sort of thing that can carry over to the next game. Bank on the Shane Doan having his tean come out fast and pumped up in Game 3. The Wings will have to weather that storm, but the Coyotes are in a desperate way now. The team won’t talk about it, but you’d better believe the stuff going on off the ice with the team and the rampant Winnipeg rumors will serve as a motivation at home. At least it should.

2. I know the Flyers are happy about getting the 5-4 win over Buffalo to tie their series with the Sabres up, but the one issue that could cause distractions is back and in a big way. Goaltending was a major worry for many concerning Philly but after Sergei Bobrovsky’s great play in losing Game 1 it seemed like they made the right choice. That is until Bobrovsky gave up three goals on seven shots just over 12 minutes into the first period of Game 2. Out went Bob and in came Brian Boucher who closed the door and let the Flyers settle down and take over.

Now coach Peter Laviolette isn’t saying yet who will start Game 3 and everyone’s dying to know which way he’ll go. It’s not an official postseason in Philly without discussing goaltending issues and now they’ve got a big one. Just imagine the hysterics if Michael Leighton finds a way to get into the mix.

3. What a mess for Boston. It’s not just that they’ve lost the first two games against Montreal, it’s that they’ve done it in highly uninspiring fashion. The Habs are silencing their offense with defensive mastery and shot blocking intensity. Meanwhile, they’re not playing the imposing physical game they’re known for and to top it all off, Tim Thomas looked rough allowing rebounds to get all over the place for Habs attackers to pounce on.

Making matters even worse is that the team looked lost without Zdeno Chara in the lineup in Game 2. Boston can certainly come back in this series and playing in front of a rabid crowd in Montreal should be all the motivation they need, but if they continue to wilt, they’re in big, big trouble.

4. Right when you think the Sharks are set to prove themselves in the playoffs, games like last night happen and blow it all up. The Sharks were reticent to go after the Kings on the point on the power play and giving talented guys like Jack Johnson and Drew Doughty room to shoot is playing with fire and the Sharks got burned badly. The Sharks are realizing very quickly that despite the Kings being without their best player, they’re not going away without making San Jose earn it. The Kings play great at home and Game 3 becomes crucial for San Jose if they want to go deep into the playoffs.

5. Some fans are getting nervous about the number of shutouts we’ve seen already. Some fans think we’re careening towards another “trap era” with no scoring. Hang on a second. After Jon Quick’s shutout last night, we’ve seen six shutouts in the first 16 games of the playoffs. Of all the games we’ve seen, all 16 of them, only one of them being truly boring (Game 1 between Pittsburgh and Tampa Bay). The other games have been played at a frantic pace with great up and down play. While you might be seeing fewer goals scored, this isn’t your obstruction fest from the late 90s and early 2000s. Guys are skating free, able to get shots away, and they’re playing with desperation. What more could you want? It’s the playoffs gang, enjoy them.